Glass washer



` Sept. 9, 1941. I E. NIELSSEN ET Al.

GLAS S WASHER Filed Jan. 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mzz/e'fzms Emanuel/ljeSe/z Edward i12/iff \7\ \\\S E Z0 027 2935 242,6 .'55

E. NIELSEN ETAL j Sept, 9, 11941.v

GLASS WASHER Filed Jan. 24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jizz/enfans EdwardJal/ W AND Patented Sept. 9, 1941 Emanuel Nielsen andEdward It. Mross,Racine, Y Wis., and Vincent WggCunninghamVChicago,

Ill.; said Nielsen and said said Cunningham Mross assign'crs toApplication January 24, 19a9, serial No. 252,638 f e 7 Claims.

The invention relates generally to glass wash-l ers, and] moreparticularly it relatesY to glass washers wherein scrubbing meansrotatable about a substantially vertical axis is utilized to scrub theinnerand outer surfaces of an inverted glass.v while immersed in aflowing body of cleansing liquid. t

Due to the varying height oi glasses which are to be scrubbed by such amachine it is necessarythat the washing solution about the brushes berelatively deep in order to submerge-brushing means to wash the widevariety of glasses.

When the washer is of a type adapted for mounting Yin presentwashing'tanks, it has been found that a large proportion of thecommercial washing tanks are'too shallow; to provide for submergence ofthe desired length `of brushing structure.

In the application of Emanuel Nielsen, Serial' Number 252,637, filedJanuary 24, 1939, there is: shown and claimed a glass washer which maybe used in such shallow sinks,` andfwhich in duces and maintains anelevatedbody lofvvater or washing solutioniabout the brushing means sothat the brushing means is submerged and is subjected to a vigorousflushing flow of ,the elevated water. A V ,y

The primaryobject of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved glass f washer operable in` accordance with the broad principleof the washer disclosed and claimed by Nielsen in the aforementionedapplication, and havingan improved and simplied construction andrelationof the various elements thereof whereby manufacture and maintenance'ofthe machine are facilitated. Y

A further object is to provide 'such a glass washer whereinthe elements,by arrangement` and form, cooperate in a novel manner to pro-V videpumping means for inducing .and maintaining the desired elevated body ofwater `about the brushing structure.

Another object is to provide a glass washer wherein the overow of theexcess elevated water is controlled sol as` tol insure uniform ap-4pearance and avoid splashing.V

Other objects andaclvantages will vbecome apparent from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

y Fig. l is a perspective view'fof a glass washer embodying vthefeatures of' the invention.

3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig.y 4 Vis a plan section takenalong the linev Fig. 2 isan enlarged verticalV sectional view of the washer shown in Fig'. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. 5 is a vfragmental vertical sectional view taken along the line5--5 of Fig. 4 and Showing m the assemblyY of the inner and outercasings of.y

the washer.

Fig. 6 is a sectional lview along the line lai-l of Fig. 2. y

' In the form chosen for illustration'hereintheV invention is embodiedin a .washer I of portablev construction adapted to be readilyY andeasily mounted in the `present wash tanks such` as the tank I i shown inFig. 2. The washer. Il) as herein shown is self-contained and unitary inconstruc-` tion, in that it comprises a baseV I2 adapted to rest on thebottom I3 of thetank II through the medium of suction cupsl I4; and onthe base I2 there is mounted a rotary scrubbing means I5 and a drivingmeans therefor, such 'as an electric motor I6 supported in: an'elevatedposition by a column'rll upstanding from one end of the base 12.v

The brushing means. I5 being rotary in character, -a suitable rotarydrive -isjprovided therefor, comprising in the form illustrated, asuitable reduction gearing (not shown) in the lower end ofthemotor'housing, which gearing drives a shaft I8 extending downwardlythrough the tubular column I1.' At its lower end and within the base I2the shaft IB carries a pinion I9 and this pinion'engages a main gear 2l!also contained in the base.

As shown in Fig. 2, the base I0 has a removable bottom wall 2l securedby screws'22 to .the downward flanges 23 formed about the edgeof the topwall 24 of the base. To provide a suitable bearing for the gear 20, thebottomwall 2| I gear 20 also'has'a sleeve 28 associated'therewith,

this sleeve 4being positioned in `surrounding spaced relation to thestationary sleeve y25, Vand having its lower end iixed in the centralopening 2li of the gear 2B, At the point where Vthe sleeve 28 extendsthrough the'kopening 21 of the f top' wall 24, an annularVA rubberring29 lis set in a suitable groove in the outer surface ofthe sleeve 28so Vas to seal the opening 21 against the entry of foreign matter whichmight damage the gears I9 and 28.

At its upperend the sleeve 28 is flanged inwardly and has securedtherein the head 30 of a bearing pin 3| which projects downwardlythrough a bearing sleeve 32 mounted within the stationary sleeve 25. Thebearing sleeve 32 is preferably of a water lubricated bearing material,and a spiral groove 33 is formed in the bearing pin 3| to elevate waterthroughout the length of the bearing. At its lower end the bearing pin3| rests on a block 35 of bearing material, the block 35 being supportedon a detachable plate 36 secured to the bottom wall 2| beneath the openlower end of the sleeve 25. Preferably the plate 36 is rather looselyfitted so that sufficient water may enter` to provide for the properlubrication of the bearing surfaces.

The brushing means I is mounted through intermediate means upon theupstanding gear sleeve 28, so as to be rotated thereby, and there isprovided about the brushing means an inner protecting andcirculation-directing'housing 40, and a spaced outer casing 4| in whichan elevated body of washing fluid may be built up and maintained whenthe tank is too shallow to submerge the inner housing 40. As shown inFig. 2, the tank I| has an overflow 42 which produces a normal fluidlevel 43 which is too shallow to permit proper circulation through thehousing 48. Thus the outer casing 4| extends for a substantial distanceabove the top of the housing 40 and provides for the maintenance of anelevated body of washing fluid reaching a level such as the level 44which provides for constant circulation of fluid through the brushstructure I5 and the housing 46. This elevation of the water within thecasing 4| is attained by pumping means, indicated as generally by thenumeral 45 inrFig. 2, which draws its supply from the exterior of thecasing 4| and discharges into the casing 4|.

In accordance withY the present invention the outer casing 4|, the innerhousing 45 and a portion of the brush supporting means all cooperate informing the pumping means 45, and the relation of these various partsis'such as to facilitate manufacture as well as dis-assembly andre-assembly of the washer by the user. Thus the solid cylindrical sidewall of the casing 4| has a bottom wall 46 secured thereto by means of aange 41, and this bottom wall 46 of the casing 4| serves as the bottomwall for a centrifugal pump chamber. `The bottom wall 46 is preferablyformed to provide for the passage of fluid into the pump chamber, and tothis end is supported in vertically spaced relation to the top Ywall 24of the base I2, as by means of raised shoulders 48 (Fig. 5) formed onthe base I2. Thus there is an inlet space 49 beneath the casing 4|, andAby means of a large opening 50 formed inthe wall 4'6 so as to surroundthe sleeve'Z in spaced relation, there is formed an annular pump inletport 5| (Fig. 3) through which uid from the inlet space 49 may passupwardly into 'the pump chamber.

' the three flattened sides 51 thereof.

housing 46,' which, shown in Figs; 2 and 5,

extends down and rests upon a plurality of slightly elevated bosses 46formed in the bottom wall 46. VThe upper wall of the pump chamberispreferably formed by means such as a glass catching pan 52 which rotateswith the gear sleeve 28 and serves as a support for the outer or sidebrushes 53. The glass catching pan 52, =being a rotating element, isutilized to carry a plurality of pump blades 54 which serve to dischargewater from the pump chamber through a plurality of pump outlets 55formed about the lower end of the housing 48. In addition to itsfunction in carrying the pump blades 54 and vin forming the top wall ofthe pump chamber, the glass catching pan 52 functions to catch andretain any chips or broken glass, thereby to prevent damage to therotating parts of the device.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the glass catching pan 52 has a bottom wall56 with an upwardly flanged central opening shaped to surround the upperend of thezsleeve 28 and interlock with The wall 56 rests on an annularshoulder 58 on the sleeve 2 8- so as to be supported in the desiredspaced relation to the bottom wall 46, and is held in place by a brushsupporting sleeve 59 which surrounds the sleeve 28 above the centralflange of the glass pan. The sleeve 59 has inwardly projecting lugs 60which, in the assembly of the parts, move down along the flattened sides51, and are then moved, by rotation of the sleeve 59, into cam lockinggrooves 6| (Figs. 2 and 4) formed in the sleeve 28 between the adjacentflattened sides 51. In the upper end of the sleeve 59 al brushingreceiving socket 62 is fixed, as by a press t; and a center brush core63 has its. lower end mounted therein. Preferably the socket 62 has ascrew 64 extending radially into the brush core 63 as shown in Fig. 6,and is provided with a pair of set screws65 for centering and aliningthe brush core 63. In the present Washer the core 63 has three verticalrows 66 of bristles, spaced at,120 so as to extend into the spacesbetween the bristles of the three similarly spaced outer brushes 53. Thecore 63 is also provided with a substantial upper tuft 61 of bristles.The outer brushes 53 are mounted in vertical dovetail channels 68secured to the bottom of the glass catching pan 52, the channels 68 alsobeing welded to the outer upstanding flange or side wall 10 of the glasscatching pan 52.

The outer or side wall 10 of the glass catching pan 52 is preferablyspaced from the housing 48. as indicated at 1| in Figs. 2 and, 4, sothat the outlet openings 55 of the pump chamber may be elongated in avertical direction. Thus the outlets 55 as herein shown are in the formof vertically elongated louvres facing or opening in the direction ofrotation of the pump. The wall 10 extends above the upper ends of theoutlets 55 and is outwardly flanged as at 12 to run with but a slightclearance within the housing 40. Thus water forced radially outwardly bythe pump blades 54 may pass through the annular space 1| and dischargethroughout the entire area of the discharge openings 55. The pump blades54 may be of any desired form but are herein shown as being formed bysheet metal angles Asecured to the lower face of the wall 56. The blades54 are of such a height, as shown in Fig. 2, as to be supported out ofContact with the bottom wall 46.

When the Washer l0 is placed in the tank the washing solution passesfreely through the space 49 and the pump inlet port 5| so as to fill thecasing 4| to the water level, such as the level 43, and when the motor|6 is started, the pump 45 quickly raises the level of the solutionWithin theV casingto a point or level such that .it

covers the brushing means I and the inner housing 4|). With thiselevated solution level in the casing 4I, a vigorous circulation of thefluid through the housing Y44 is initiated, there being a plurality ofdischarge ports or louvres formed in the housing immediately above theupper edge of the outer flange 10 of the glass catching pan. Thus therotation of the brushing means discharges solution from the louvres 15so as to cause rapid and continuous flow or circulation of solution intothe top of the housing 40. Preferably the louvres 'I5 are directedreversely as respects the direction of rotation of the brushing means,whereby to prevent cavitationof the fluid within the casing 4|. The pumpis designed to supply an excess of uid beyond the quantity necessary tomaintain the desired elevated uid level, as at 44, and as a result thereis ordinarily a slight overflow from the casing 4|. In accordance withthe present invention this overow is controlled to improve theappearance of the machine while in operation, and to control and preventsplashing of the overowing liquid on the surrounding liquid surface 43.To thisrend the casing 4| has its main cylindrical side wall 4|terminating at the desired level 44,',and has a separately formed topring l'S secured thereto. This top ring has a plurality of outwardlypressed louvres formed at its lower edge,A facing downwardly, so thatwhen the loweredge of the ring 16 is iixed in surrounding relation totherupper end of the casing wall 4|, the liquid above the line 44 mayflow downwardly outsideof the casing wall, through the louvres The upperedge of the ring '.'6 preferably has its upper edge rolled or flangedinwardly as 'at` 'I8 to 'increase the strength and improve theappearance of the casing 4|. o j o o To secure the various elements ofthe washer in assembled relation, means is provided whereby theseelements may be 'readily assembled initially and whereby the device maybe readily taken apart and 1re-assembled for cleaningpurposes. studs 8|!are provided on vthe topv wall 24 of the base, the studs being arrangedin spaced annular relation such that the lower end of the casing 40 maybe placed within their flattened inner faces 8|.l

Preferably the shoulders 48 for supporting-,the bottom wall 4B of thecasing 4| are formed annularly about the bases of thev studs 80, andopenings 82 are formed in the bottom wall 46 so that the casing 4| maybe placed in position on the shoulders 48. The openings 82 having a snugiit about the annular lower ends of the studs 80, the casing' 4| isproperly positioned by the studs 88. After the casing 4| is in position,the glass catching pan 52, carrying the side brushes 53, is placed uponthe upstanding 'gear sleeve 28. The housing 40 is then lowered' throughthe open upper end of the Vcasing 4|, and positioned within the ring ofstuds 80 with its lower edgeL on the bosses 46 of thebottom wall 46 ofthe casing 4|. Means is provided whereby, through a partial rotation ofthe housing 4B, the housing is locked'tightly down upon the bosses 4B ofthe wall 4'5, thus providinga relatively tight seal about the studs 80,'and a rm engagement with the bottom wall 46.' This firm engagementassures proper clamping of the casing 4| in `the desired position. Thislocking action is attained in the presentinstance by' a pair of lockingcams 85 secured on opposite out- To this enda plurality of upstanding ersides of the housingr 40 and engageable with locking slots 86 formed 'inthe flatinner faces 8|l of the severalstuds 80, The center brush is thenlowered into place,` and isiixed in position by rotation so as to engageits locking means 60-6I. Thus the severalelements of the washingmechanism are effectually held in assembled relation, and yet, arecapable of convenient disassembly for inspection YorA cleaning.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present inventionprovidesa glass washer wherein the various elements are formed andrelated in such a manner as to permit economic manufacture and assemblyas well as convenient inspection and cleaning bythe user.

We'clairn as our invention: v

1. A glass Washer comprising, in combination, a base, a rotatabledriving member upstanding from said base, an open top casing having abottom wall with a relatively large opening therein, said casing beingsupported on said base with said bottom wall in spaced relation to saidbase and with said driving member projecting upwardly through saidopening in spaced relation to the peripheral edge ofsaid opening wherebyto define ran annular inlet, a glasscatching pan within said casingmounted on said driving member for` rotation therewith and positionedabove the bottom wall of said casing, a plurality of upstanding sidebrushes carried by said glass catchingA `pan so as to vproject upwardlytherefromV a center brush carried by said driving member, pump bladescarried on the lower face of said glass catching pan, acirculation-direct- '7 ing housing surrounding said brushes spacedinwardly from land of a less height than said casing, said housingextendingY downwardly about Y said glass catching pan substantially intoabutment with said bottom wall whereby to define a pump chamber aboutsaid pump blades, said housing having pump outlets therein adjacent tothe bottom of said glass catching pan, said pump outlets discharginginto said casing, and said housing also having openings slightly abovesaid glass lcatching pans-for discharge of iiuid circulated through saidhousing, said pump blades being operable by said driving member todischarge water into said casing, whereby, when the washer is mounted'ina tank having a normal water level toolow to submerge said housing, saidpump blades induce an elevated water level within said casing.

2. A glass washer comprising, in combination,

a'base, a rotatable driving member upstandingV from said base, an opentop casing having a bottom wall with a relatively large opening therein,

Y said casing being positioned with said bottom wall above and in,spacedy relation to said base and with said driving member projecting'upwardly through said opening in spaced relation to the peripheral edgeof said opening whereby to ydefine an Vannular inlet, a glass patchingpan within said casing Ymounted `on said driving member for rotationtherewithjso vas'to be located a a short distance above the bottom'wallof said casing, a plurality offbrushes carried by saidgl'ass catchingpan so `as to project upwardly therefrom, a center brush car'riedby saiddriving member, pump blades carried on the lower-face of said glasscatchingpan, a circulation-directing housing surrounding said brushesspaced inwardly fromr'and of a less height than said casing, said'housing extending downwardly' about said glass catchingpan-substantiallyinto abutment with said bottom wall wherebyV to define a pump chamberabout said pump blades, and having pump outlets therein adjacent tothebottom of said glass catching pan, said pump outlets discharging intosaid casing, and said housing also having openings slightly above saidglass catching pan for discharge of fluid, and a common means supportingand positioning said housing and said outer casing in the .desiredrelation to said base and to .each other.

Y3. A portable glass washer adapted to be positioned in awash tank, saidwasher comprising, in combination, a base, a rotatable driving memberprojecting upwardly from said base, an open top casing having a bottomWall with Va relatively large opening therein, said casing beingpositioned with said bottom `wall in lspaced relation above said baseand with said driving member projecting upwardly through said opening inspaced relation to the peripheral edge of said opening whereby to definean annular inlet, a centrifugal pump rotor within said casing above saidbottom wall .of the casing and mounted on said driving member forrotation therewith, brushing means .operatively associated with saiddriving member, a .circulation directing housing surrounding saidbrushes spaced inwardly from and of a less height than said casing, saidhousing extending downwardly about said pump rotor and lcooperating withsaid lbottom wall to define a pump chamber for said pump rotor, saidhousing being formed -to provide a vpump outlet from said chamber,discharging into said casing, and said housing also formed to permitcirculation of the water within said Acasing through said housing andlthe brushing means, and means operable to secure said inner housing andouter casing in position with relation to each other and with relationto said base. f

4. A glass washer of the character described comprising, in combination,a base, a rotatable driving member upstanding from said base, an opentop casing having a bottom wall with a relatively large opening therein,said casing being supported on said base with said bottom wall in spacedrelation to said base and with said driving member projecting upwardlythrough said opening in spaced relation to the peripheral edge of saidopening whereby to define an annular inlet, a glass catching pan withinsaid casing mounted on said driving member for rotation therewith andlocated a short distance above said bottom wall of said casing, aplurality of side brushes carried Iby said glass catching pan so as toproject upwardly therefrom, a center brush carried f by said drivingmember, pump blades carried on the lower face of said glass catchingpan, a circulation directing* housing surrounding said stantially intoabutment with said bottom wall whereby to deiine a pump chamber aboutsaid pump blades, and having pump outlets-therein adjacent to the bottomof said glass catching pan, said pump outlets discharging into saidcasing, and said housing also having openings slightly above said glasscatching pan for discharge of iiuid circulated through said housing,said bottom wall having a plurality of small openings formed therein inannular spaced relation beneath and just outside of the lower end ofsaid housing, a plurality ofpositioning studs extending from said basethrough said small openings and along the lower outer face of saidhousing whereby to laterally position said h ousing and said casing withrelation to said base and with .relation -to each other, and-cooperatinginterlocking means on said housing and a plurality of said studsoper-ableto releasably secure said housing against verticaldisplacement.

5. A glass washer comprising, in combination, a base, a rotatable.driving .member upstanding fromv said base, a plurality of positioningstuds upstanding from said base and arranged in a spaced annular rowcentered on said `driving member, said studs having nat annularshoulders around their bases spaced upwardly from the upper surface ofsaid base, an open top casing having `a ,bottom wall with a relativelylarge opening therein and having a plurality o-f smaller .openingsarranged in spaced annular series about a-nd concentric with said largeopening and adapted to be positioned .over said studs so that saidbottom wall rests on said shoulders and is spaced thereby from saidbase, said driving member projecting upwardly through said opening inspaced relation vto the peripheral edge of said opening whereby to denevan annular inlet, aglass catching pan within said casi-ng mounted onsaid driving member for rotation therewith and spaced a short distanceabove said bottom wall of said casing, brushing means carried by saidglass catching .pan and said driving member -so as to project upwardlytherefrom, pump blades rotated by said driving member and locatedbetween the lower face of said glass catching pan-and said bottom wall,a circulation directing housing surrounding said brushes spaced inwardlyfrom and of a less height .than said casing, said housing extendingdownwardly about said glass catching pan and within said annular row ofstuds substantially into abutment with said bottom wall whereby todeiine a pump chamber about said pump blades, said housing being formedto provide an outletdischarging from said pump chamber into said casing,and said housing also having openings slightly above said .glasscatchingV pan for discharge of fluid, and cooperating means on saidstuds and said housing operable by partial rotation of the housingtolock said housing and said casing in position on said base.

6. A glass washer comprising, in combination, a base, a rotatabledriving member upstanding from said base, an open top casinghaving abottom Wall with a relatively large opening therein, said casing beingpositioned with said bottom wall above and in spaced relation to saidbase and with said driving member projecting upwardly through saidopening in spaced relation to the peripheral edge of said openingwhereby to'deiine an annular inlet, a glass catching pan within saidcasing mounted on said driving member yfor rotation therewith and spacedupwardly -from said bottom wall of the casing, a plurality of sidebrushes carried by said glass catching pan so as to project upwardlytherefrom, a center brush carried by said driving member, so as toproject upwardly therefrom, pump blades carried on the lower face ofsaid glass catching pan, a circulation-directing housing surroundingsaid brushes spaced inwardly from and of a less height than said casing,said glass catching pan having an outer upstanding wall with a slightoutward ange at its upper edge, said housing extending downwardly aboutsaid glass catching pan in closely spaced relation to said flange andwith a greater spacing from lower portions of said side wall, saidhousing extending substantially into abutment with said bottom wallwhereby to dene a pump chamber about said pump blades,

and said housing having pump outlets therein vertically elongated frompoints beneath the bottom of said glass catching pan to points adjacentthe level of said ange, said pump outlets discharging into said casing,and said housing also having openings slightly above said glass catching pan for discharge of iiuid, and means supporting and positioning`said housing and said outer casing in the desired relation to said baseand to each other.

'7. A portable glass washer adapted to be positioned in a wash tank,said washer comprising, in combination, a base member, a rotatabledriving element projecting upwardly from said base, an open top casingmember having a bottom wall with a relatively large opening therein,said casing member being positioned with said bottom wall in spacedrelation above said base member and with said driving element projectingup- Wardly through said opening in spaced relation to the peripheraledge of said opening whereby to define an annular inlet, a centrifugalpump rotor within said casing member above said bottom wall of saidcasing and mounted on said driving element for rotation therewith,brushing means operatively associated with said driving element, acirculation-directing housing member surrounding said brushes spacedinwardly from and of a less height than said casing member, said housingmember extending downwardly about said pump rotor and cooperating Withsaid bottom wall to deiine a pump chamber for said pump rotor, saidhousing member being formed to provide a pump outlet from said chamberdischarging within said casing member, and said housing member alsobeing formed to permit circulation of the water within said casingmember through said housing member and the brushing means, andreleasably engaged means on said three members operable to secure saidmembers in position with relation to each other. EMANUEL NIELSEN. EDWARDR, MROSS. VINCENT W. CUNNINGHAM.

